krsmith17

That means that Nielsen will be bought out by the 27th day of October...

That sounds like a Lou problem... If I'm not getting a 1st round pick or a 2nd and a top prospect (Dobson), I wouldn't be helping the Islanders out. A 2nd on it's own wouldn't be enough for me.

Yeah, if we're taking on Boychuk, I'd want a 1st round pick (preferably 2022), or 2nd round pick and top prospect.

Points in every game so far to start the season. 7GP-2G-9A

Guy is relentless, and those are the worst type of trolls...

This is the way it should be (Nielsen in particular)... Here's to hoping...

LOL no, I didn't read the article. I'm sure it's as bad as this terrible take. I'm also sure there are hockey minds much smarter than you and 'Jack Han', that say that handedness absolutely does matter...

Obviously talent trumps handedness. No one has ever said otherwise. No one is saying that all lefties should play on the left side and all righties should play on the right side. Of course certain players prefer to play on their "off side". That doesn't change the fact that it's smart to build a team with balanced handedness. Plays run smoother, particularly on the power-play with both lefties and righties. Ryan is a great addition, but even more so because he brings an element the team severely lacks, right-handed forwards.

This guy gets it.

This is the best one I've seen yet. I really like Ryan on the top line with Larkin. Also moving Mantha down to the 2nd line to balance the scoring. I'm not sure if our two best shooters should be on the same line, but it could work. I'd like to see Fabbri get some looks at center on that third line, but like Gagner there to help him out. I'm not sure where Nielsen and Filppula are, nor do I care. Neither should be playing over anyone in that lineup. We still lack elite talent, but this is a very solid forward lineup, with actual depth. Love it!

LOL I knew you would take this and run with it. Maybe it is true, but I'm not sure if I buy it. Not to thr extent Spiro makes it out to be anyway.

Pretty much. I think all three could be back for this reason alone. Yzerman continues to stress the importance of adding right-handed forwards to the lineup (something I've been saying for years). Of the three (Ryan, Gagner, Glendening) though, I'd like to see Ryan stick around. I think he has a lot more game left, and I can see a big season out of him.

I think there's a real possibility that the top line could be broken up. I think Ryan is a lock to at least start in the top six, maybe even on the top line with Larkin. I do think Fabbri will be the odd man out of the top six, whether that's at center or wing. I don't think Nielsen will be a regular in the lineup, potentially bought out or waived.

Raymond and Berggren are playing against each other now, if anyone is interested... Anyone know how to stream SHL games? The site I used to use is no longer... Nevermind. Got it working!

Svechnikov is no longer waiver exempt, so if he's sent down, there won't be any calling him up. If waived, he would definitely get claimed. I'm still hopeful that Yzerman will continue ridding this team of bad players, and give Svech a look on the 3rd line. Otherwise, I assume he will start the season as the 13th forward.

I know you're a little slow, but maybe you missed the part where I admitted it being a bad take?

What's your point? Are you saying you foreseen a global pandemic, thus a flat cap? I fully admit that $5.5M was way too high, but he would have absolutely signed for more than the current $2M under normal circumstances.

Now THIS was a bad take... However, I think he would have gotten significantly more (nowhere close to $5.5M) if not for the pandemic / flat cap.

That's if all of those guys are still here and healthy all season... Why would we completely dismiss what the general manager has said? I've said from the beginning that Fabbri might be better suited on the wing, and that the Namestnikov signing might allow him to stay on the wing. However, I'm not sure why we're assuming Namestnikov will to slot in at center and Fabbri will not. Neither have played much center in the past couple years, and like I mentioned, a big reason we haven't seen any attempt to transition Fabbri back to center, is likely due to health over the past couple seasons. Last season Fabbri took 67 faceoffs in 61 games (40.3%), and Namestnikov took 47 faceoffs in 65 games (46.8%). Yzerman says he'd like to try Fabbri at center, but hasn't said anything (yet) about Namestnikov at center. And we're going to assume the opposite? Okay...

Who dis? This was before the global pandemic, when I thought he would command double the salary and term... Namestnikov for two years at $2M is a great contract. You remind me of someone else with awful takes...

This is what I see happening, and like I mentioned, Fabbri may get a look as the 3C, depending on what happens with the old, washed up Nielsen and Filppula.

I'd hate to lose Veleno, but I think I'd have to pull the trigger on that. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a single knowledgable hockey fan that would agree with you that Nielsen is better than Gagner, regardless of contract.

I think Ryan will be up in the top six, and I wouldn't be shocked if he gets looks on the top line with Larkin.

Well I don't know what criteria you are using, because Gagner is flat out the better player. Just last season, Nielsen scored at a 0.15 points per game clip, while Gagner was slightly over double that, at 0.31 points per game... Nielsen sucks. He's a borderline NHL player on an awful contract. Gagner looked good enough in his short stint last season to get another contract, granted low term and AAV, but more than what Nielsen would get at this point in his career. I can't believe this is even a conversation...