Goaltending Future

[MDIsles]

this is my first created thread ever.


I am VERY, VERY, concerned about our Goaltending Pipeline Longterm... Thoughts???

Poulin- looks VERY RAW.
Nilsson- like him better than Poulin but had the ILLNESS...


I would try and land a Miller or young solid vet via trade in the offseason. I love Nabby but he is 146 years old.

 

[JeffNYI]

I'd definitely prefer Nabokov over Miller next season. I'd rather have the guy who got us here back.. the guy who's respected so much in the room already..

Then we hope the switch goes on for Nilsson or Poulin soon like it has for Bailey and Okposo.

And then .. regardless of anything else, draft 1-2 goalies this year.

 

[MDIsles]

Oh I totally agree, I would prefer Nabby next year, love him. Sorta shocks me that the Isles haven't given him a 1-2 year extension yet... The Isles cannot go into 13-14 season with only Poulin and Nilsson on the Big Club, or they will fall back to 13th-15th in East...

 

[lorwood]

Just like the QB in the NFL the goaltender is the most important position on a hockey team. You don't win on a consistent basis without solid goaltending and you don't win the Stanley Cup without great goaltending.

If the Islanders were going to spend in the FA market this would be one of the priorities within the next two years.

 

[PK Cronin]

They'll try and get an UFA, it makes the most sense.

I'd want to get a new goalie as soon as next season. Nabby can stick around, but in a reduced role. It'd benefit everyone over the course of a full season.

 

[Riseonfire]

Johnathan ****ing bernier.

1st and a 3rd at the draft. DO IT SNOW!

 

[OlTimeHockey]

The funny thing is Poulin is raw but still looks better than DP did for his first four seasons.

And we're nervous because our two very young goalies highly accoladed young goalies aren't developing as fast as other non-power forwards do?

21 gp 17 starts 1045mins 7-9-0 2.76 546 498 .912 0

if he progresses past .500 next year (he was .500 before this season}, his fourth limited duty year, compare it to DP. Five years for DP to be .500 with better teams. Poulin isn't thrown into the starter role prematurely as well but rather being groomed.

Now add Nielson is being groomed. Time is on their side. Fundamentals are being improved upon {anyone wanna comment on Poulin's fundamentals now vs. two seasons ago?} and the team is allowing them to earn icetime.

If Nabby can stay on two more years, Poulin and Nielson will have had a luxury Isles goalies never get anymore - A PROPER DEVELOPMENT.

Hrudey took five years to become tandem, seven for starter for the record. He was 23 when his career took off. He had some sloppy moments when he first came up, but showed a lot of poise. He took the role and never looked back.

Now we have a fanbase that has a set OCD pattern demanding a prospect come in and shine or get sent packing or if they are sold a la NINO and DP, stay on forever, "because the label said so."

I'm not sold Nino isn't gonna be a top line winger. I think he could blossom on HIS SCHEDULE. Same goes for any prospect. Same should go for Poulin and Nielson. When they are ready, they will be ready. Don't call them starters, saviors, busts, scrubs, anything until they earn it. Right now, we have a solid Nabby {some brain trusts describe as 137 years old} who starts 7/8 of the season. We have 1/8 for the kid to get his feet wet{ter}. Next year the kid has to earn 1/4 or more. Hope he does. Him or Nielson.

And some will be upset he didn't fit the OCD timeline mandated by forum psychology.




And FWIW, I do that Bernier trade in a heartbeat! No on Miller.

 

[Bones45]

there is this Rick kid in Bridgeport who is really something special.

Heard he was drafted #1.

 

[OlTimeHockey]

there is this Rick kid in Bridgeport who is really something special.

Heard he was drafted #1.

plays like sizzling bacon, lightning fast. Real charmer and quite the looker.

 

[Beastrt]

Johnathan ****ing bernier.

1st and a 3rd at the draft. DO IT SNOW!

Honestly i would do this trade, but im starting to think the problem with poulin was that bridgeport defense was so terrible it wasn't only him. Rick was facing 5 less shots a game compared to poulin. Bottom line i think poulin can be a fine backup for nabakov for the next 2 years and anders nilsson could end up being a good goalie now that his fatigue issues are behind him. I would give nabokov another year or 2 extension.

 

[NYI78]

this is my first created thread ever.


I am VERY, VERY, concerned about our Goaltending Pipeline Longterm... Thoughts???

Poulin- looks VERY RAW.
Nilsson- like him better than Poulin but had the ILLNESS...


I would try and land a Miller or young solid vet via trade in the offseason. I love Nabby but he is 146 years old.

nilsson is the guy...his illness is under control i'd expect him to be pushing for a spot next season.

 

[NYI78]

The funny thing is Poulin is raw but still looks better than DP did for his first four seasons.

And we're nervous because our two very young goalies highly accoladed young goalies aren't developing as fast as other non-power forwards do?

21 gp 17 starts 1045mins 7-9-0 2.76 546 498 .912 0

if he progresses past .500 next year (he was .500 before this season}, his fourth limited duty year, compare it to DP. Five years for DP to be .500 with better teams. Poulin isn't thrown into the starter role prematurely as well but rather being groomed.

Now add Nielson is being groomed. Time is on their side. Fundamentals are being improved upon {anyone wanna comment on Poulin's fundamentals now vs. two seasons ago?} and the team is allowing them to earn icetime.

If Nabby can stay on two more years, Poulin and Nielson will have had a luxury Isles goalies never get anymore - A PROPER DEVELOPMENT.

Hrudey took five years to become tandem, seven for starter for the record. He was 23 when his career took off. He had some sloppy moments when he first came up, but showed a lot of poise. He took the role and never looked back.

Now we have a fanbase that has a set OCD pattern demanding a prospect come in and shine or get sent packing or if they are sold a la NINO and DP, stay on forever, "because the label said so."

I'm not sold Nino isn't gonna be a top line winger. I think he could blossom on HIS SCHEDULE. Same goes for any prospect. Same should go for Poulin and Nielson. When they are ready, they will be ready. Don't call them starters, saviors, busts, scrubs, anything until they earn it. Right now, we have a solid Nabby {some brain trusts describe as 137 years old} who starts 7/8 of the season. We have 1/8 for the kid to get his feet wet{ter}. Next year the kid has to earn 1/4 or more. Hope he does. Him or Nielson.

And some will be upset he didn't fit the OCD timeline mandated by forum psychology.




And FWIW, I do that Bernier trade in a heartbeat! No on Miller.

Poulin is the EXACT same goalie he was two years ago... inconcistant rebound control...flops at times and has a horrific glove hand

 

[seabass45]

If we trade, I'd rather pay the premium for Bernier instead of one year for Miller.

Kings have an interesting cap situation next year: 14 mil in space, RFAs include Bernier, Martinez, Voynov, Nolan, and Lewis. Penner is UFA, maybe they bring him back? I haven't paid attention to the Kings this year.

 

[lorwood]

I would be concerned (although admittedly its been a very small sample) with Poulin's rebound control. At this level a goalie should have two thing pretty much down pat, cutting down the angle and controlling the rebound.

My other concern is developing a goaltender while most of the team is in their prime.

 

[redbull]

One thing Snow's done very well is build team chemistry (at least it appears that way from my "inside info post" here in HF!)

The team appears like a tight group, they play hard for one another. The fact that Visnovsky/Nabokov sign contracts after refusing to report is a big indication. I remember Boyes, shortly after the lockout ended, talking about what a close group they were and how he saw a lot of talent on the team, not just JT.

Team chemistry can be fickle and Nabby seems like a guy that's just very likable. I love his experience, how he talks to the media, he's got a great personality and is probably a great mentor for not JUST Poulin, but for the young defense as well.

PLUS, he can play.

He's let in some really bad goals (especially early in the year) but he's been MUCH better of late. He brings a calmness and stability to the position that you just don't get with a young goalie who's still learning. I'll admit, Poulin was excellent yesterday (vs. Philly) but I was nervous as hell with every puck that went near the net.

There are few guarantees with the goalie position and less so when you have YOUTH there. For every Carey Price, there are 100 Andrew Raycrofts. I see the same with James Reimer in Toronto, who's been outstanding this year (for the most part, anyway) - yet, those lapses where he has an off night, seems to put doubt into the team.

The Isles are still a fragile team. They have never looked as good as they do now, though (not since the 80s) with confidence and I think Nabby is a HUGE part of that.

I'd bring him back for sure (if he wants to continue playing).

Then, I'd also look to bring in another vet. I prefer a guy like Luongo who can be had for little assets, comes with a price/budget, but there are FEW (if any) better in the NHL.

Besides him, I'd go vet over youth at that position.
It's not a knock on Poulin or Nilsson per se - I just like the idea of a goalie being a stabilizing role, that "experience" tends to bring.

 

[CREW99AW]

this is my first created thread ever.


I am VERY, VERY, concerned about our Goaltending Pipeline Longterm... Thoughts???

Poulin- looks VERY RAW.
Nilsson- like him better than Poulin but had the ILLNESS...


I would try and land a Miller or young solid vet via trade in the offseason. I love Nabby but he is 146 years old.

You do realize the illness that Nilson had is treatable?

He missed almost 3 months, then came back to play 1 game at the end. A game he played well in.

 

[blinkman360]

I'd consider drafting Fucale with our 1st now that it seems we'll be picking in the bottom 3rd. Re-sign Nabby for another year. After that, we can either go with one of our young guys Poulin/Nilsson, or go after a UFA. Some of the names set to be on the market after the 13-14 season are Hiller, Miller, Kiprusoff, Crawford, Giguere, Vokoun, Halak, Elliot, and of course Lundqvist. Obviously most of these guys will be locked up by that time, but chances are a couple will sneak through to UFA. Depending on who they are, we could either get our long term answer or a solid stop-gap until Fucale is ready.

Best case scenario though would be one of Poulin/Nilsson establishing themselves next year as Nabby's backup.

 

[noupf]

Is Nabakov signed for next season or is his deal up at the end of this year?

 

[InformTheMasses]

You do realize the illness that Nilson had is treatable?

He missed almost 3 months, then came back to play 1 game at the end. A game he played well in.

He played the last two games actually. As you said, he looked real good for a guy that missed that much time and lost that much weight at one point.

I've always been high on Nilsson (higher than Poulin). I think Nilsson has what it takes to become an A level goalie in the NHL. Question is, how long will it take him to get there. His development has had a few bumps in the road but hopefully that is all in the past.

I wouldn't rule out Poulin yet either, yes he w\has weakness' (rebounds, glove) but so does Bernier. Bernier's positioning is suspect at times and he lets in his fair share of softies too. He isn't the automatic fix that many are making him out to be (much like Yandle on this board). Poulin and Bernier's NHL stats are very comparable at this point actually, and the Kings have always had a better defensive core and team in front of their goalie.

This thing has plenty of time to play out, you can't even write Koskinen off at this point. He's going back to Finland for a season or two but will be 26 when that deal is over. Thats about the age goaltenders start to become NHL ready.

Nabokov will continue to be the perfect bridge until one of these guys step up.

 

[duster19]

If we trade, I'd rather pay the premium for Bernier instead of one year for Miller.

Kings have an interesting cap situation next year: 14 mil in space, RFAs include Bernier, Martinez, Voynov, Nolan, and Lewis. Penner is UFA, maybe they bring him back? I haven't paid attention to the Kings this year.

I wouldnt mind having Bernier, maybe Nolan in the mix to. Bring back some grit, let Joenssu go.

 

[OlTimeHockey]

Poulin is the EXACT same goalie he was two years ago... inconcistant rebound control...flops at times and has a horrific glove hand

I disagree, think his glove is better and he stays up more as he should. He's still a work in progress. Hopefully he doesn't take as long as our other goalie Tim Thomas did.

 

[OlTimeHockey]

He played the last two games actually. As you said, he looked real good for a guy that missed that much time and lost that much weight at one point.

I've always been high on Nilsson (higher than Poulin). I think Nilsson has what it takes to become an A level goalie in the NHL. Question is, how long will it take him to get there. His development has had a few bumps in the road but hopefully that is all in the past.

I wouldn't rule out Poulin yet either, yes he w\has weakness' (rebounds, glove) but so does Bernier. Bernier's positioning is suspect at times and he lets in his fair share of softies too. He isn't the automatic fix that many are making him out to be (much like Yandle on this board). Poulin and Bernier's NHL stats are very comparable at this point actually, and the Kings have always had a better defensive core and team in front of their goalie.

This thing has plenty of time to play out, you can't even write Koskinen off at this point. He's going back to Finland for a season or two but will be 26 when that deal is over. Thats about the age goaltenders start to become NHL ready.

Nabokov will continue to be the perfect bridge until one of these guys step up.

Exactly my sentiments.

Just like Petrov will have the best possible Islander development {we don't touch him til he's ready}, so will Mikko. Poulin learns the job while young and with Nabby. Nielson can take Poulin's spot if he's in camp and showing better. We don't have problems in goal except amongst the flat souffle crowd that wants kids in right now if not sooner.

Bossy had to improve his defense way back when. He fixed it. Tavares had to skate better. He fixed it. Poulin has to improve his glove hand. We're all gonna die! Let's revisit this thread in a year or two or five.

 

[Fantom]

Nabby while he is solid i do not feel like we should be pushing him over a full 82 Game. He needs real backup. Someone who can actually play
10-20 games if need be.

 

[scott99]

I think Poulin proved a lot last night. Though they lost, he gave them a good chance to win. His last two starts were very solid. This has to give him confidence for the future.

Last 2 starts.

Wins Loss Gaa Save percentage.
1 1 2.03 .927

This is more like the Poulin of 2010-11. I have high hopes for him and Nilsson as our goalies of the future.

Plus, if he gets 30-35 starts next season (If Nabby re-signs), I think he can be even better than his last 2 starts. Goalies need to play more often than every 2 weeks to stay consistent.

 

[kasper11]

I think Snow brings back Nabokov, as long as he is willing to sign for the right price. Snow seems to be pretty loyal to his players, and I think he wants the team to keep moving in the direction it has, not shake things up.

That said, I hope he goes after Bernier. I don't think he will, but I hope. If Poulin continues to develop, too many goalies is a problem I wouldn't mind having. I hope we have too many players at every position in a couple of years.