As someone solidly in the "in between" category, I'm not sure what you're saying here. I'm not aware of many (any?) chest-thumping "we're winning the Cup baby!" types here, and at the other extreme is "tear it down and rebuild", right?
Not chest thumping about making the playoffs. The “I don’t care what spot we get as long as we get in” troop.
I prefer the Komarov days when he was blamed for everything, yet since he was removed from the team, the team performed worse…
They could but. I doubt it happens this year. I think we ride or die with a mix and match of Martin, Clutterbuck, Cizikas, Holmstrom, Fasching, Gauthier, Pageau, Johnston. This isn’t a group you can roll 4 lines with all game long.
I think you seriously underestimate how difficult it is to make the playoffs in todays NHL - 16 teams only make it out of 32! The 13-16 seeds are not shit like in the NBA - the margins are so slim.
Half the league makes the playoffs. It’s not a big deal.
Their PK is top 10 in the league.
Momentum seems more important vs place in standings, but agree with your initial point. The place in the standings gives fans more hope and belief and the media talks more flattering of teams at the top of the standings vs. those just getting in.
This move is not without risks. However, EK's contract and San Jose's unwillingness to eat much of the contract limited the number of teams he could've been dealt to. The Pens got rid of a lot of bad contracts in the move. Granlund would have been a buyout or cost a 2nd rounder to dump. Petry would have required a sweetener as well. He turned negative assets and cap space into the 22-23 Norris winner. That's not to say it's a risk free move. I agree that EK is not an ideal defenseman. He is quite bad defensively.
This is the most blatant case of not understanding causation vs correlation.
owners if it means they get the extra PO gm 7 $$$ at home
Raty didn't even pop. He was fine, and the Isles I believe sold high. Good organizations have a knack of selling high on players/assets. While Bo Horvat is an obvious upgrade over what we had, at his current contract, just as many of the Islanders, he is overrated. He is a bottom tier 1st line center who had a high shooting percentage. I prefer the Isles start spending futures on guys who haven't popped yet. Romanov is a good example of such a swing. I don't particularly like the player, but because we have so many bloated contracts, the way to maximize the window is to take swings on players who you think are undervalued and cost-controlled. Trading for a player who is at his absolute peak (Horvat) is usually bad asset management. We got him for fairly cheap, but the re-sign cost will hurt.
I'd do everything I could to make sure I had my very best teams in there.
You're absolutely right. There is no Barry Trotz. So where does that leave us?
No, maybe it's not as dire as I make it out to be. But it can be. We'll just have to see how it pans out in the new year. Besides, the board was kinda dead. Just wanted to check if you guys were awake.
Double down now…and your selections were based on off-season ‘winners’ and ‘losers.’
Wait… are you implying that Lehner was the difference in GAA and not the system Trotz put into place. R E A L L Y??? I can’t believe that some people are now arguing that the Isles success based on one of the leagues lowest GAA was a result of Lou’s choice in goaltenders versus Barry Trotz’s system. And they’re calling me revisionist? The entire system was based upon keeping shots against our goalies along the perimeter and not give any opposing players a “good look”. When you do that of course the goaltenders stats will improve.
Agree on the PP though the bar is set low using last season as a comparison. I see Horvat and Barzal finding chemistry and Dobson becoming the PP QB we need.
